Redalert1970 wrote:I use train line on a weekly basis and they are brilliant
Get single from Blackpool to Bolton for as little as 3.80 but never pay more than 5.00 per journey
Try booking directly through Northern Rail; they sometimes have promotional tickets/prices on their own services, but at worst you'll be able to get the same tickets as trainline and avoid the admin/transaction fees.
The Trainline are just a booking agent - I think people use them because they are established and the website is easy to to use; but they're no cheaper than anywhere else - they don't provide the service or set the prices and merely offer a bridge so you can book tickets rather than using the operators themselves or national rail for this purpose.